Camp bed



March 2 1927' R. c; JOHNSTON ET AL CAMP BED Filed Abril 11. 1923 'IJiql.

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March 22,1927.

1,621,841 R. c. JOHNSTON ET AL CAMP BED 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' Filed April 11, 1925 boberfiJZ/msfbn. mes RES/2y.

Patented Mar. 22, 192?.

UNITED STATES 1,621,841 PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT CLYDE JOHNSTON AND JAMES ROYDEN ESTEY, 03f VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

CAM]? BED.

Application filed April 11, 1923, Serial No.

This invention relates to a camp bed which may be readily taken apart and packed for transportation, the object being to provide a frame simple and strong in construct-ion, supporting a bed which is flexible and resilient in independent longitudinal lines and one wherein the strains imposed by tightening the bed tend to hold the frame in th extended position.

The invention is particularly described in the following specification, reference being made to the drawings by which it is accompanied, in which Fig. 1 is a plan of the bed complete.

Fig. 2, a side elevation and part longitudinal section of the same.

Fig. 3 is an end view to an enlarged scale of one of the end rails.

Fig. 4 is a plan of the same.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the end of one of the longitudinal members of the bed frame, showing the connection of the leg thereto in the folded or out-of-use position.

Fig. 6 is a plan of the same.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same with the end rail in sect-ion and the leg down turned as in use.

Fig. 8 is a plan of the same showing the manner of securing the leg in the in-use position.

Fig. 9 is a plan of the splice connection of the longitudinals showing the extension means.

Fig. 10 is an elevation and part section of the same.

Fig. 11 is-an elevation of the side extension lever.

Fig. 12 is a section on the line 12-12 in Fig. 10.

Figs. 13 and 1% show an alternative device for securing the legs in the in-use position.

The bed proper, which is suliiciently flexible and resilient to serve without a mattress, may be a width of a suitable fabric, such as canvas, of the length and width of the bed, but preferably consists (see Fig. 1) of a series of relatively wide strips 2 of webbing spaced close together and extending lengthwise of the bed. These strips 2 are maintained the required distance apart by similar strips 3, which are basket-woven at intervals apart across the longitudinals 2 and are strongly sewn thereto along each side.

At each end these strips 2 are looped around and secured to a steel rod 1, (see Fig.

631,336, and in Canada September 2, 1922.

8) the ends of which are preferably pocketed in the outer longitudinal strips 2.

At each end of the bed these steel rods 4 are connected by a short coiled spring 5 between each pair of strips 2, to theinwardly turned edge of an angle iron 6, which forms each end rail or transverse member of the bed supporting frame. A short piece of angle iron 7 (see Figs. 3 and F1), is secured at each end of each angle iron rail 6 to the downwardly projecting side of the angle to project inwardly from that edge parallel to the other side of the angle for a reason to be explained later. I

The longitudinal or side members of the bed frame, which extend between and are re movably connected to the ends of the end members or rails 6, are each composed (see Figs. 1 and 2), of two sections or lengths of angle iron 10 and 11, adjustably splice-connected approximate the midlength of the bed, the end of one, 10, (see Figs. .9, 10 and 12), having cleats 12 riveted to it, the ends of which are bent round to engage the edges of the other angle iron section 11. A slidable connection is thus established between the two sections of each of the side members.

The horizontal component of the angle iron of the section 11 of each side member is apertured adjacent the end, as at 18, to re ceive the lower end of a headed pin 14, (see Fig. 10), endwise movable in the corresponding part of the other section 10 of the side member, and susceptible of falling into one of the apertures 13 of the section 11, when in alignment with it. A cover stop 15 is secured to the member 10, or to one of the cleats 12 secured thereto, to prevent withdrawal of the pin 14 beyond what is necessary to free it from engagement with the member 11. This pin 14 prevents endwise movement of the two members 10 and 11 in relation to one another.

As will be seen later, the bars 10 and 11 are extended outward against the tension of the springs 5 of the bed 2. 3 to stretch the bed tight, and as the strength of all the springs 5 is considerable, the manual effort must be mechanically applied to extend the side frames 10, 11 against this tension.

This power is applied by lever 16 having a pin 17 downwardly projecting from it adjacent one end to fit one of the apertures 13 of the member 11. The edge of this lever adjacent the pin 17 is eccentric therewith to position by the pin 14 in one of the apertures 13.

To the outer end of each side member 10 and 11 is pivotally connected at 21, (see Figs. 5, 6 and 7), a leg member 22 to support the bed at a convenient height above the fioor or ground. The lower end of each leg has one side of the angle iron cut away for a short distance from the end, and the remaining portion is inwardly turn-ed, as at 23, to form a foot to prevent the end of the leg scratching the fioor or penetrating soft ground.

The removed portion is sufficient to permit the leg to fold upward and inward on its pivot 21 against the downwardly projecting edge of the angle iron of the member 10 and 11 to which they are connected.

The upper end of each leg 22 is produced a short distance above the side member section 10 or 11 to which it is pivoted, and the extreme end of the projecting portion is notched as at 26, see Fig. 6. The end of each cross rail or end member 6 has a short piece of angle iron 7 secured to it, see Figs. 3 and 4, to seat on the upper side of each side member and is notched as at 18 to fit beneath the head of a stud 24 secured to project from the upper side of each member 10 and 11 at such distance from its outer end that the upwardly projecting end of the leg 22, which extends alongside the end member when in the upright position, will retain the notch 18 on the stud as indicated in Fig. 7. A bolt 25, the head of which is turned at right angles to the body of the bolt, see Figs. 3 and 7, is loosely threaded through an aperture in each end of each cross rail 6. which bolt may, as shown iii-Fig. 7, be moved into the notch 26 of the upper end of the leg, whereupon tightening of wing nut 27 with which said bolt is provided will securely hold the leg in the upright position and will also hold the rail 6 against the tension of the bed springs 5.

Figures 13 and 14; show an alternative means of securing the upper end of each leg 22 in the supporting position. It comprises a double hook member 19, 20 pivotally mounted on each end of each end rail 6', 19 adapted to pass through a slot in the upper end of the leg and hold the leg against tolding movement, and 20 to pass into a notch on the other face of the angle iron. The

hook member is provided with a square by which it may be turned to retain or release.

The bed 2, 3 connected by the rods a and springs 5 to the end rails 6, is rolled up with theseparated longitudinals 10, 11 and forms a compact, conveniently handled parcel.

In preparing for use, the bed 2, 3 is, with the end rails 6, spread out where desired,

and the longitudinals 10 and 11 are slidably connected together, and the notch 18 of the piece 7 of the end rails 6 is passed under the head of each stud 24;: The legs are then turned down when the end of each leg projecting above its pivot 21 retains the end rails in position, and they are secured by the bolt 25 and wing nut 27 through the slot 26 in the upper end of each leg. The longitudinals 10, 11 are then endwise adjusted to give the desired tension, by the use of the cam lever 16 and are retained in that extended position by the pin 14 in one of the apertures 18.

It will be noted (see particularly Fig. 8) that the side port-ion of the-angle iron leg 22 engages or embraces the end oi the end member 6 when the leg is in upturned posi tion and that the location oi the bolt 25 in the end rail 6 is laterally within the position of the slot "for this bolt in the upper end of the leg 22, so that when the bolt is tightened to secure the upper end of the leg to the end rail, it draws the inner side of the leg angle iron tightly against the end oi 6 and supports the leg against any tendency to sway laterally, as also does the substitute fastening 19, 20.

It will also be noted that the stud and notch connecting means 2-l, 18, between each end n'iember and each longitudinal member are adapted to prevent vertical movement of the end member (3 with respect to the side longitudinal member and to prevent relative transverse movement thereof, and are also adapted to limit inward longitudinal move ment of the end member with respect to the longitudinal member while permiiting free outward longitudinal movement thereof. hen the leg is turned into vertical position so that its upwardly projecting portion engages the outer face of the end member and is secured to the end member by connecting means 25, 27, or 19, 20, so as to be held in this position, a rigid corner connection is provided, which is adapted to resist relative movement of any of its three components 10 or 11, 6 and 22, in any direction. The arrangement of the connecting means is such that connecting the leg to the end member not only serves to hold the same rigidly against the end member, both longitudinally and transversely, and regardless of the tension of the bed bottom, but also prevents outward movement of the end member with respect to the longitudinal member.

Having now particularly described our invention, we hereby declare that what we claim as new and desire to be protected in by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a camp bed, a longitudinal member, an end member adapted to rest on top of said longitudinal member and means for detachably connecting said end member to said longitudinal member when in such position, said connecting means comprising a vertically extending headed stud on one of said members and a notch extending longitudinally of the bed on the other of said members, said headed stud and notch being adapted to be brought into engagement upon relative longitudinal inward movement of the end member with respect to the longitudinal member, a leg pivotally connected to said longitudinal member adjacent the end thereof to fold alongside said longitudinal member or to turn down at right angles thereto, said leg having a portion projecting upwardly above its point of pivotal connection to said longitudinal member when the leg is in the latter position and alongside the end member when said end member is in position on top of said longitudinal member, and said projecting portion being adapted to engage said end member in such manner as to limit the turning movement of the leg, and fastening means for securing said projecting portion of the leg to said end member in such manner as to hold the projecting portion inwardly against the end member and thus prevent turning movement of the leg and also in conjunction with said headed stud, prevent outward movement of the end memher with respect to the longitudinal member.

2. In a camp bed, longitudinal members, end members resting on top of said longitudinal members at the ends thereof, means for detachably connecting said end members to said longitudinal members in such manner as to prevent relative vertical movement thereof and relative lateral movement there of and to limit inward longitudinal move ment of the end members with respect to the longitudinal members but to permit outward movement thereof for detaching the end members from the longitudinal members, a leg pivotally connected to each longitudinal member adjacent each end thereof to fold alongside said longitudinal member or to turn down at right angles thereto, and having a portion projecting upward above the longitudinal member when the leg is in the latter position and adapted to rest against the outer face of the end member as a stop,

and fastening means for holding said projecting portion of the leg inwardly against said outer face of the end member, said projecting portion of the leg, when so fastened, serving to hold the end member against outward movement longitudinally of the bed.

3. In a camp bed, a longitudinal rail, an end rail resting on said longitudinal rail, means connecting said end rail to said longitudinal rail, a leg pivotally connected to the end of said longitudinal rail to fold alongside said rail or to turn down at right angles thereto, said leg having a portion projecting upwardly above the longitudinal rail and alongside the end rail when in the latter po sition and adapted to engage said end rail to limit the turning movement and prevent lateral movement of the leg, and adjustable fastening means connected to said end rail and adapted to engage the upper end of said leg to pull the same inward longitudinally, the point of connection of said fastening means to the end rail being laterally Within its point of engagement with the leg, so as to also exert an inward pull laterally on said leg.

4:. In a camp bed, an extensible longitudinal member comprising rail sections slidingly connected together, releasable latch means for automatically securing said rail sections in extended position, and means for moving said sections to extended position comprising longitudinally spaced apertures in one of said rail sections and an operating lever having a lug adapted to fit any one of said apertures and having a cam portion adapted to engage the other rail section in such manner that operation of said lever causes said sections to be extended longitudinally.

5. In a camp bed, wherein is provided extensible side bars composed of sections slidingly connected together, a gravity latch pin carried by one section and adapted to enter apertures in the opposing section, a cover stop for limiting the withdrawal of said latch pin, one of said extensible sections having'apertures to receive said latch pin, and an operating lever having lugs to fit said apertures and a cam portion to engage the end of one of said rail sections, whereby said rail sections may be forced apart or extended for the purposes described. 7

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

ROBERT CLYDE JOHNSTON. JAMES ROYDEN ESTEY. 

